Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the world have found themselves faced with new challenges on issues of ethics. Much of this has been centred on issues of assessment: plagiarism, buying essays, sharing/lending of previously passed work and the stealing of marked/returned work of others. Institutions still treat academic misconduct as…

Students use various licit and illicit substances to enhance their academic performance. As yet, no study has explored whether this is an issue of concern for those working in the higher education sector. This study aimed to explore study drug policy, regulatory environments and responses within Australian universities. Semi-structured interviews…

The purpose of this study is to apply corporate fraud fighting methods to develop a framework for fighting academic dishonesty in higher education. The evidence in the literature overwhelmingly supports the existence of academic dishonesty in higher education, with increases in admitted cheating over the past several decades and as many as 80…

In their efforts to manage the college environment, many higher-education institutions have deployed complex systems of student discipline--often in the form of legalistic codes of conduct. Paradoxically, says the author, major challenges involving students on campuses appear to be getting worse: high-risk alcohol/drug use persists; student…

Student codes of conduct often encourage or require students to report observed acts of academic dishonesty. This research investigated the influence of such requirements on academic dishonesty and the peer reporting of such dishonesty. Results suggested that stronger requirements generally lead to more reporting and less cheating. However, the…

The purpose of this study was to explore some of the challenges associated with mobile phones in college classrooms. A sample of faculty and students was surveyed to assess the extent to which the technology is considered a serious source of distraction in the classroom, concerns about use of the technology for cheating, and attitudes about…

Presents an interview with two faculty members at Temple University on the question of academic integrity. Discusses that while encouraging better detection and stiffer enforcement of policies is an understandable response to studies showing that cheating is in the rise, it is important to keep the dialogue focused on the value of integrity. (GCP)

Examined efficacy of communication in ameliorating cheating among college students and aspects of communication that might be most effective in reducing cheating. Results suggest student cheating may be associated more strongly with beliefs and values than with situational factors and that students and faculty diverge widely on beliefs about what…

A University of Virginia student has successfully challenged his expulsion, which was based on an accusation of cheating on a test. The student claimed his initial trial was unfair and that he was poorly represented. Some feel the university's honor system has been compromised. (MSE)

Discusses the importance of involving students in the design and enforcement of campuswide academic integrity policies, and in the education of other students about the importance of academic integrity. Argues that any approach to student discipline must involve a collaboration among faculty, administrative staff, and students. (GCP)

Survey data from 4,285 students in 31 colleges and universities indicates students at schools with academic honor codes view the issue of academic integrity in a fundamentally different way than do students at non-honor code institutions. This difference seems to stem from the presence of an honor code and its influence on the way students think…

Analysis of survey data from 6,096 students in 31 colleges and universities found that academic dishonesty was associated with the existence of a campus honor code, student perceptions of the certainty of being reported, severity of penalties, and cheating among peers. (Author/MSE)

In today's climate of competitiveness and cynicism, colleges and universities should aggressively review and enforce their policies on academic dishonesty. Education about the importance of ethical academic behavior must be part of the institutional agenda from the moment students are accepted. (MSE)

Compares the self-reported cheating behaviors of fraternity and non-fraternity members and the relation between student cheating and the overall level of greek membership on campus. Fraternity and sorority members cheat more than non-members but cheating would not change dramatically if fraternities or sororities did not exist on campus. (RJM)

Presents self-reported prevalence and incidence data about student academic dishonesty generated from an anonymous survey. Over two-thirds of students reported some form of academic dishonesty during a sample semester. Evaluates the perceived effectiveness of cheating countermeasures by comparing those students who admitted involvement with those…